Mobilising investment for a sustainable planet

The European Investment Bank Group has, as its top priority, ensuring a green transition that benefits citizens, businesses and the planet. The need to cut dependence on imported fossil fuels and reinforce Europe’s energy security has become even more pressing in today’s geopolitical context.

As one of the world's largest public banks, and the financing arm of the European Union, the EIB and its subsidiary the European Investment Fund is also mobilising private finance to support breakthrough technologies and clean tech start ups that will lead to a net-zero economy. The Group aims to support 1 trillion euros in investment this decade for renewables, storage, grids, efficiency and the decarbonisation of heavy industry, as well as for adaptation projects, to make the green transition affordable and contribute to a better future for all.

EIB Group President Nadia Calviño will discuss the EIB Group's role and strategy in 'saving the planet' through its action for sustainability and energy security.

Meet your speakers and chair

Iain Begg is a Professorial Research Fellow at the European Institute, London School of Economics and Political Science. His main research work is on the political economy of European integration and EU economic governance. He has directed and participated in a series of research projects on different facets of EU policy and his current projects include studies on the governance of EU economic and social policy, the economic and fiscal consequences of Brexit, evaluation of EU cohesion policy and reform of the EU budget. Other recent research projects include work on policy co-ordination under EMU and the social impact of globalisation.

President Nadia Calviño is a Spanish economist and lawyer with a 30+ year career in public policy, economics and finance. She has held several prominent positions within the Spanish government and the European Commission. Ms. Calviño served as First Vice-President of Spain and Minister of Economy, Trade and Enterprise until December 2023. Prior to that role, she held various positions, including Second Vice-President and Minister for Economy and Digitalization (March-July 2021), Third Vice-President and Minister for Economy and Digitalization (2020-2021) and Minister for Economy and Business (2018-2020). Additionally, she chaired the International Monetary and Financial Committee (IMFC) of the International Monetary Fund from 2022 to 2023.

Andrés Rodríguez-Pose holds the Princesa de Asturias Chair and is a Professor of Economic Geography at the London School of Economics (LSE). He currently directs the Cañada Blanch Centre at LSE and has previously served as Head of the Department of Geography and Environment. He chaired the European Union’s High-Level Group on the Future of Cohesion Policy, which is responsible for shaping the EU’s Cohesion Policy beyond 2027. Additionally, Rodríguez-Pose has held distinguished positions in regional science, including President and Vice-President of the Regional Science Association International (RSAI), as well as Vice-President and Secretary of the European Regional Science Association.

More about this event

This event is part of the LSE Festival: How to save the planet running from Monday 15 to Saturday 20 June 2026. This year's Festival explores how existential threats including the climate crisis, conflict and AI are affecting all parts of the world, transforming the way and where we live, and how our societies function. With a series of events asking what can we be doing to save the Earth, its people and environment? Booking for all Festival events will open on Monday 18 May.

The (@CanadaBlanchLSE) is the vehicle to achieve the objective of the Fundación Cañada Blanch: developing and reinforcing the links between the United Kingdom and Spain. This is done by means of fostering cutting-edge knowledge generation and joint research projects between researchers in the United Kingdom, and at LSE in particular, on the one hand, and Spain, on the other.

The LSE School of Public Policy (@LSEPublicPolicy) equips you with the skills and ideas to transform people and societies. It is an international community where ideas and practice meet. Their approach creates professionals with the ability to analyse, understand and resolve the challenges of contemporary governance.

Hashtag for this event: #LSEFestival

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